Mondé is an enigma buried in a riddle, wrapped in a pass-the-parcel that’s soundly tucked into a United States Civil War replica cannon and fired at an encroaching army of woodland creatures.
Seemingly arisen out of nowhere, Mondé’s swagger and bravado rivals that of Mick Jagger or Bruce Springsteen. The debut track from Mondé titled ‘Best At’ is a melancholic ballad aimed straight at the heart strings. Its simple progression is complimented by blissful layering of synth leads and vocal harmonies. Mondé’s vulnerability is apparent throughout the track, but most evidently towards its conclusion where the 5 or so vocal harmonies drop out leaving a single broken voice in a declaration of unbridled, self-sacrificial love. ‘Best At’ has the feel of artists such as The National or Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

We were graced by the presence of Mondé himself to bestow upon us a slither of his infinite wisdom.

TJ: For anyone hearing about you for the first time, can you give your best pitch of who Monde is?

M: Mondé is… if Hugh Hefner lived in a trailer park and made pop music. Mondé is… home brand caviar. Mondé is… everyone’s bedroom mirror and a hairbrush masquerading as a sold out arena and microphone.

‘Best At’ is such a simple but passionate piece. Can you tell us a little more about the track?

Whilst the words came out as a real stream of consciousness, I now interpret them, first and foremost, to being about the fine line between love and obsession and the ramifications of becoming a romantic martyr.

Meatloaf once said that he’d do anything, but that, for love... What if he were to do that? What was that? Was that really that bad? Was it something minor, like picking his partner’s friend, who he didn't really like, up from the airport in rush hour? Or was it something major that rattled him to his very core, that shook his beliefs and morals to which he holds most dear.

Best At is about doing anything for love AND doing that, once, twice, hell, even ten times over and being blindly proud of it.

That’s why I find the fact that it’s so uplifting so fitting. It’s like spontaneously combusting and just being happy because you’re warm.

We've never analysed Meatloaf with such scrutiny but must admit you have a point. Can you tell us a little about your song writing process?

I feel like at times the songs write me. I am the canvas upon which they express themselves. They come to me and we negotiate the terms of the agreement of how it should work like tempo and key. I become the voice for the songs to say what they need to. I am a vessel.

In the case of Best At, the song presented itself to me after indulging in the devil’s juices. I was at a late autumn soirée, one of many I occasionally grace with my presence. All of a sudden this feeling inside of me just burst like a ruptured spleen. I staggered to a piano, hit the first chord as I collapsed into its tired, oaky arms. I cried out some rendition of the first few lines and then everything went dark. So all in all, the process is a bit unorthodox.

If you had to say one artist that you feel you are guilty of emulating, who would that be?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to be a pop sensation…. Hell, I always was, in the confines of my own home. I had charisma, I had good looks. I was a prodigal... I could’ve been a contender. The big difference is, I don’t have a world class studio, I don’t have Beyoncé’s dancers, Taylor Swift's posse, Kanye’s clothing line, or Don Henley’s legal skills.

I have a ripped copy of Ableton, a sax I bought from a lady on Gumtree and threads from a charity store... Hell, that doesn't mean the hustle is any different though.

Where did the name Mondé come from?

Before I was reincarnated, I went by the name bestowed upon me at my inception. I was too close to that name, I still am. It’s too personal so it’s hard when, in a sense, you are your own project. There’s no separation there.

Bruce Springsteen is Bruce Springsteen. (No shit, but stay with me.) Does that mean he’s the same Bruce that plays songs about the working class for 4 hours in front arenas of adoring dads who paid $800 to breathe his air, as he is when he’s taking a shit on a Sunday afternoon after a light lunch and a side of Bargain Hunt? Probably not.. and that sucks.

You can’t be on all the time, you would die of exhaustion. This way though, Mondé can be. It never has to stop, it never has to die. Mondé can be out turning tricks and selling Rolex’s on the 96 tram and I can be at home doing fuck all. Mondé is my Mr Hyde.

Also, Mondé is the French word meaning things like kingdom, world and people so it's just about the least personal thing I could find.

This is your first release as Mondé, can we expect more in the foreseeable future?

Despite the fact that the world has gone dark, it would not be something to rule out. I can neither confirm, nor deny that there are more songs in the ether, but, we will honestly just have to wait and see.